Helpline to quit tobacco launched

A city-based hospital today launched a dedicated helpline to help the public quit smoking.
Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology and Research (SRIOR) started the helpline in English and Tamil, which will function as a call centre.
An experienced counselor will talk to the person and record the history to recognise the reasons for using tobacco, assess the understanding and willingness of the person to quit tobacco, assess the commitment to follow-up and help them by all means to quit tobacco consumption, SRIOR Director, Guhan said on the sidelines of the launch.
Stating that the patient support program would be operated through the centralized support center in Mumbai for the helpline number 0422-61131441 (barring Sundays), he said the services were available both in English and Tamil and the calls received after working hours of 9.30 am to 6.30 pm would be recorded through voice mail and follow up calls will be made next working day.

Earlier, Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor P Ganapathy said the university would take efforts to create awareness among the students on the need to quit smoking or highlighting the ills of tobacco.
A circular can be sent to all departments and affiliated colleges in this regard, he said adding that the university was willing to involve the students in the task, since use of tobacco, leads to cancer and other diseases.